Chinese Automaker BYD Delivers First Electric Truck to US Freight

Posted on July 19, 2017 by adminedit

BYD Motors Inc. is supplying 11 zero-emission battery electric trucks to SF Goodwill for use in the San Francisco region collecting and transporting donations. The 10 delivery trucks and one refuse truck will be assembled at BYD Motors’ facility in Lancaster. SF Goodwill, which serves San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties, will use the delivery trucks for collections and to transport donations among its stores and drop off locations and the refuse truck as a debris hauler for transpo...

China will host the World Economic Forum’s annual June meeting, often called Summer Davos on June 27 – 29 2017

Posted on June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 by adminedit

China will host the World Economic Forum's annual June meeting, often called Summer Davos on June 27 - 29 2017. The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the international organization for public-private cooperation. Hundreds of business and research leaders are gathering in the Chinese city of Tianjin for the annual World Economic Forum. Innovation is in the spotlight for the current 'Summer Davos'. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss nonprofit foun...

G-Startup Worldwide is a global startup competition held around the world to find the most innovative, early stage startups, invest $1,000,000 in them, support them with a global network and enable them to change the world.

Posted on June 23, 2017 by adminedit

G-Startup Worldwide is a global startup competition held around the world to find the most innovative, early stage startups, invest $1,000,000 in them, support them with a global network and enable them to change the world. https://youtu.be/G2M39pySzyo G-Startup is hosted at each GMIC in 2017 including Beijing, Bangalore, Tel Aviv, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Hong Kong & Silicon Valley. The local winners of G-Startup Worldwide at select competitions receive investment. The winner al...

Eco-labels and Green Stickers are labeling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are voluntary, but green stickers are mandated by law.

Posted on June 4, 2017 by adminedit

Ecolabelling is a voluntary method of environmental performance certification and labelling that is practised around the world. An ecolabel identifies products or services proven environmentally preferable overall, within a specific product or service category. Eco-labels and Green Stickers are labeling systems for food and consumer products. Ecolabels are voluntary, but green stickers are mandated by law; for example, in North America major appliances and automobiles use Energy Star. They ar...

Delft University of Technology is working to reinvent the Toilet by processes water on-site and upgrade urine and feces to energy at an omni-gasification plant.

Posted on May 9, 2017 by adminedit

Delft University of Technology is working to Reinvent the Toilet Upgrading human waste Since 2011 TU Delft has been a participant in the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We propose a community-based sanitation system that processes water on-site and upgrades urine and feces to energy at an omni-gasification plant. Human waste is dried, converted to syngas and fed into a fuel cell. The gasification process instantly destroys pathogens and ...

Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – whether community-driven research or global investigations. The Citizen Science Association unites expertise from educators, scientists, data managers, and others to power citizen science.

Posted on May 1, 2017 by adminedit

Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – whether community-driven research or global investigations. The Citizen Science Association unites expertise from educators, scientists, data managers, and others to power citizen science What is Citizen Science? The Oxford English Dictionary recently defined citizen science as: “scientific work undertaken by members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and ...

Public Lab is a community and non-profit organization that is democratizing science to address environmental issues that affect people

Posted on May 1, 2017May 1, 2017 by adminedit

Public Lab is a community where you can learn how to investigate environmental concerns. Using inexpensive DIY techniques, we seek to change how people see the world in environmental, social, and political terms. Communities lack access to the tools and techniques needed to participate in decisions being made about their communities, especially when facing environmental hazards. Public Lab is an open network of community organizers, educators, technologists and researchers working to creat...

Today’s Eco-Robots That Help Address Critical Environmental Issues

Posted on April 29, 2017 by adminedit

There is boundless potential for robotic technology to address environmental catastrophes. Recognizing this, Colin Angle, chairman, chief executive officer and founder of iRobot and Erika Angle, chief executive officer of Science From Scientists, have founded Robots in Service of the Environment (RSE). RSE is an independent non-profit organization, not affiliated with iRobot, that is focused on developing robots to solve environmental problems. Started with initial funding from the Anthropocene ...

German Center for Research and Innovation event on ‘Smart Cities & Urban Development ‘ in New York on May 2, 2017

Posted on April 12, 2017 by adminedit

German Center for Research and Innovation event on 'Smart Cities & Urban Development ' in New York on May 2, 2017 In order to achieve the goal of sustainable smart cities, strong collaborations in research and technology are critical. For this reason, six German urban research networks are building partnerships in the US to develop innovative solutions and joint projects for resource-efficient and climate-adapted cities of the future. The GCRI is inviting American researchers, urban plann...

‘Airo’ is a self water harvesting bottle from air and a solar charger for your smart phone

Posted on February 28, 2017February 28, 2017 by adminedit

Austrian startup Fontus has developed a novel water bottle that harvest water from air. It's a vaporware that literally pull water vapor out of the air to fill itself. Harvesting water from the air via processes like condensation has been practiced in various ways for eons, of course. In recent years, we've seen a James Dyson award go to an Australian irrigation system that works on the same principle, as well as a lightweight bamboo tower that grabs its own water. But the ability to do so ba...

Queen Mary University of London research suggest bees are smart and can learn the task by observing and also pass down skills through several generations of learners, ensuring its longevity in the population.

Posted on February 23, 2017February 23, 2017 by adminedit

Pulling strings to obtain food is an experiment often used to test the intelligence of apes and birds, but it is the first time this technique has been discovered in an insect. Moreover the cultural spread of such a technique from a single informed individual has also been described for the first time in an invertebrate animal. The results, published in PLOS Biology, show that rare innovator bees were able to solve the problem of pulling the string to reach a sugar water reward by themsel...

University of Rochester researchers have developed microbial fuel cell (MFC) with electrode made from paper, and will enable certain bacteria to produce electricity from waste

Posted on February 15, 2017 by adminedit

A microbial fuel cell (MFC), or biological fuel cell, is a bio-electrochemical system that drives an electric current by using bacteria and mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature. MFCs can be grouped into two general categories: mediated and unmediated. The first MFCs, demonstrated in the early 20th century, used a mediator: a chemical that transfers electrons from the bacteria in the cell to the anode. Unmediated MFCs emerged in the 1970s; in this type of MFC the bacteria typically...

Stanford engineers create a low-cost battery made with urea

Posted on February 14, 2017 by adminedit

Stanford University researchers created an aluminum-ion battery that uses an electrolyte material made of urea, the main component of urine (after water). A battery made with urea, commonly found in fertilizers and mammal urine, could provide a low-cost way of storing energy produced through solar power or other forms of renewable energy for consumption during off hours. A battery developed in Stanford Professor Hongjie Dai’s lab could provide low-cost storage for solar energy. (Image credit...

Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – whether community-driven research or global investigations

Posted on February 6, 2017 by adminedit

Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – whether community-driven research or global investigations. The Citizen Science Association unites expertise from educators, scientists, data managers, and others to power citizen science. Join us, and help speed innovation by sharing insights across disciplines. https://youtu.be/UVuEsuk9Dgc Whether through grassroots action or technology-mediated crowdsourcing, there has been a rapid increase in public par...

‘TOTO’ has developed ‘intelligent toilet’ that uses an integrated UV light and special glaze to break down dirt and grime in the bowl, and rinses it clean.

Posted on January 12, 2017 by adminedit

'TOTO' has developed 'intelligent toilet' that uses an integrated UV light and special glaze to break down dirt and grime in the bowl, and rinses it clean. This intelligent toilet uses an integrated UV light and special glaze to break down dirt and grime in the bowl, and rinses it clean with ewater+. And with other features like a heated seat, deodorizer and warm water sprays, Neorest 750H delivers an unparalleled sense of relaxation to you in the most comforting and refreshing ways possible...

Dwarf trees that yield fruits and vegetables

Posted on January 2, 2017 by adminedit

Many different fruit trees grow well in containers, from familiar apples to exotic pomegranate (pictured). Dwarf fruit trees provide earlier yields in smaller spaces, and can even be grown in large containers. They bear fruit sooner than standard fruit trees, usually within two years. Dwarf fruit trees also look good, with a compact form that bears normal-sized fruit. They generally reach 2 – 2½m in height. Instead of planting a full size apple tree, you can plant 3-4 dwarf trees in the sa...

Australia’s demographic statistics

Posted on December 18, 2016December 18, 2016 by adminedit

On 19 December 2016 the resident population of Australia is projected to be: 24,302,302 This projection is based on the estimated resident population at 30 June 2016 and assumes growth since then of: one birth every 1 minute and 40 seconds, one death every 3 minutes and 17 seconds, a net gain of one international migration every 2 minutes and 25 seconds, leading to an overall total population increase of one person every 1 minute and 24 seconds. According to the estimated population ...

Trinity College Study on ‘Identities in Transformation’. The study examines the relationship between globalization, culture and identity

Posted on December 14, 2016 by adminedit

Identities, both on the level of the individual and the collective, are formed and develop in complex processes that negotiate attitudes, values and behaviours, and shape our social and cultural practices. Identity debates are occurring through reflection on the decade of commemoration and the wider re-evaluation of Irishness, and also in the context of massively changing migratory patterns in both Ireland and Europe. These transformations are embedded within the context of greater global inter...

Germany’s algae-based renewable energy house

Posted on December 9, 2016December 9, 2016 by adminedit

The BIQ House in Hamburg, Germany, is the first building in the world with a dynamic, algae-based, bio-reactive façade. With 200 square meters of integrated photo-bioreactors (PBRs), this passive-energy house generates high-value biomass and solar thermal heat as renewable energy resources. At the same time, the innovative façade system also integrates additional functionalities, such as adaptive shading and noise reduction. In total, 129 SolarLeaf bioreactors have been installed on the southwes...

Research on correlation of Money & Happiness

Posted on December 4, 2016 by adminedit

In contrast to decades of research reporting surprisingly weak relationships between consumption and happiness, recent findings suggest that money can indeed increase happiness if it is spent the “right way” (e.g., on experiences or on other people). Drawing on the concept of psychological fit, we extend this research by arguing that individual differences play a central role in determining the “right” type of spending to increase well-being. In a field study using more than 76,000 bank-trans...

Green City Solutions has engineered a street installation that uses biotech moss to combat pollution in urban cities

Posted on November 10, 2016November 10, 2016 by adminedit

University of Dresden is supporting the City Tree developers Victor Splittberger and Peter Sänger by using a special programme to research how pollution could be most effectively filtered from the air. The programme can be employed to numerous locations worldwide. The CityTree structure is an amalgamation of sorts: a green, free-standing contraption that’s seemingly part tree sculpture, part park bench and part skate ramp. Its verdant wall stands about 13 feet high, and its square face st...

Phenotypic plasticity is a natural ability for plants and animals to evolve based on changes in the environment.

Posted on October 23, 2016 by adminedit

Phenotypic plasticity can be defined as the ability of one genotype to produce more than one phenotype when exposed to different environments. Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to changes in the environment. With climate change forcing plant and animal species to adapt, shape-shifters are taking a unique approach that involves changing their physical appearance without having to migrate or evolve in order to cope, new research shows. A ...

German Research Center – DL-methionine from Evonik can be added to the animal feed to reduce emission of ammonia

Posted on October 7, 2016 by adminedit

The UN estimates that the global population is increasing by about 80 million people each year. By the year 2050, nine billion people will need to be fed. The middle class will continue to grow, and with greater prosperity and urbanization, food habits will change: Meat, fish, dairy products, and eggs will become staples on many menus. How will all these people be adequately fed, and how will the increasing demand for meat be satisfied in the future? Amino acids from Evonik Industries, used a...

MIT to use new models and big data to better understand financial risk

Posted on August 6, 2016 by adminedit

The financial crisis of 2008, which saw the failure of major investment banks Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, and the subsequent government bailout of insurance giant American International Group (AIG), had a ripple effect around the globe. How did America’s housing collapse lead to the downfall of these institutions? And why did that, in turn, translate into a severe economic downturn? Not having a clear picture of systemic risk in the financial system, an issue encapsulated in the “too bi...

Veritable Autonomous Indoor Garden

Posted on August 1, 2016 by adminedit

Veritable Autonomous Indoor Garden Lets You Grow Herbs And Small Veg All Year Round. Designed by a development team based in France the Véritable indoor garden features a water reservoir that is capable of feeding anything your growing for up to 3 weeks without any interaction from yourself. It also includes LED lighting, for growing slots and the quiet water irrigation system. Veritable Autonomous Indoor Garden allows you to grow your own food indoor. The Véritable indoor ga...

NASA’s research on ‘arabidopsis’ genetically modified seed with a green-fluorescing protein marker to understand how plant responds to microgravity

Posted on June 28, 2016 by adminedit

When we go to Mars, will astronauts be able to grow enough food there to maintain a healthy diet? Will they be able to produce food in NASA's Orion spacecraft on the year-long trip to Mars? How about growing food on Earth under extreme conditions? These are questions scientists are trying to answer by observing plant growth in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS). Plant biology investigations called Petri Plants explore the fundamental genetic mechanisms plants use to adapt t...

Japanese firm developing robot farmers

Posted on May 28, 2016 by adminedit

Kubota, Japan's largest maker of agricultural machinery, has already developed its first prototype autonomous tractor for use in rice paddies. Equipped with a global positioning system, the vehicle cultivates fields and fertilises after checking soil conditions. Iseki & Co and Yanmar are also developing autonomous tractors and harvesters with Hitachi developing systems for farm machinery. Kubota is also developing and marketing a suit-like device to help farmers harvest and carry fruit an...

NASA’S SMAP Mission Kickstarts Global Soil Moisture Analyzing Operations

Posted on May 27, 2016May 27, 2016 by adminedit

With the launch of Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, NASA has laid foundations for mapping global soil moisture and accurate weather predictions that can help us cope with the drastic weather irregularities. Now after completion of observatory, science operations have been commenced. The team involved in the mission is ready to compare the collected data with the ground measurements regarding discrepancies of the nature of soil. This very activity will last for more than a year and...

Commercial products that produce water from Air

Posted on May 27, 2016 by adminedit

Atmospheric water solutions manufacture machines that produce purified water from air. These Innovative machines extract humidity from the air which is filtered, condensed, and then processed through an additional multi-step filtration system; producing “purified great tasting water™”, with no chlorine, fluoride, or heavy metals present. Their AquaBoy® Pro II machine makes hot and cold water from air , filters it and stores up to 2 to 5 gallons every day. It’s easy to operate, environm...

Biodegradable plastics

Posted on May 26, 2016May 26, 2016 by adminedit

Biodegradable bags are bags that are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. There are two very different types of biodegradable plastic. they are as follows: Oxo-biodegradable plastic - made from polymers such as PE (polyethylene) PP (polypropylene) and PS (polystyrene) containing extra ingredients (NOT heavy metals) and tested according to ASTM D6954 or BS8472 or AFNOR Accord T51-808 to degrade and biodegrade in the open environment and Vegetable based plastic...